Antioxidant and cell growth activities of beet root pomace extracts

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) pomace, processing by-product from food industry, was investigated in this work as a starting raw material. The contents of phenolics (1.87–11.98 mg GAE/g of dry weight) and betalains (0.75–3.75 mg betalains/g of dry weight) in the extracts were determinated spectrophotometrically. Some individual phenolic compounds, including ferulic, vanillic, p  -hydroxybenzoic, caffeic and protocatehuic acids, were identified and quantified by HPLC. The antioxidative activity of beetroot extracts was tested using DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals by ESR spectroscopy. IC50OH (0.05–0.108 mg/ml), IC50DPPHIC50DPPH (0.183–0.333 mg/ml), and IC50O2- (0.198–1.000 mg/ml) were calculated. The regression analysis produced moderate to high correlation coefficients between the scavenging activities and phenolics, and some individual phenolic compounds which indicated that beetroot pomace may be used as functional food ingredient. Cell growth effects were determined in MCF7 and MRC-5 cell lines, using SRB assay. IC50 values were in the range of 362.478–503.525 and 383–587.880 μg/ml in MRC-5 and MCF7, respectively.

► Beetroot pomace, by-product from food industry, a good source of natural compounds.
► Four beetroot pomace extracts showed high phenolic and betalain content.
► Scavenging activities on DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals evaluated by ESR.
► Cell growth effect of beetroot pomace extracts on MCF7 and MRC-5 cell lines.
► Beetroot pomace – functional food ingredient and natural antioxidant.